Draft-gear.



L. T. GANFIELD.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1910.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

V ffode W W Q wiac-5 606,

, when not'subject to pulling or strains, spring mechanism. yleldlngly' con cara an s'ra ras ear;

LEWIST. CANFIELD, QF'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNIQN DRAFT GEAR COM- PANY, 9F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DRAFT-GEAR;

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented oat. o, ieia.

Application filed July 8, 1910. Serial No; 571,044.

citizen of the United States, residing at,

Chicago, .in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain. new and useful Improvement in DraftGcar, of which the following a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being, had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to draft gears and has foritsobject theprovision of an im )roved draft gear construction whereby lighter pulling strains and the initial parts of heavier pulling" strains are opposed by resisting mechanism that-offers less opposition to the pulling strainsthan do the major draft strain opposingportions of the gears.

A device constructed in accordance with the invention preferably includes-a coupler, mechanism for defining a normal positionof the coupler when not subject to pulling or pushing strains, and mechanism limiting the forward and rearward movements of the coupler and serving to permit greater forward movement of the coupler fromnormal position than the maximum rearward movement of the coupler from normal position. As I have actually embodied my in vention, I employ a coupler, mechanism for defining a'normal position of the coupler pushing nect-ing the coupler with the rear of the aforesaid mechanism to be subject to pulling strains, and mechanism operating independently of said spring mechanism for limiting the rearward movements of the coupler.

A very important feature of my inven- ,tion, as preferably practised, resides in av yielding connection interposed between the coupler an'd mechanism that is employed to define a normal position for the coupler when not subject to pulling or pushing strains.

I will explain my invention more fullybyreference to the accom anying drawing showing the preferred em odiment thereof.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan View showing the preferred embodiment of the invention some arts bei'n shown in secv tion; and Ilg. 2 1s a central sectlonal elevaofthe parts bein shown in'full elevation. Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference in both figures.

It will not be necessary to describe in detail the mechanism that is relied upon to andv pushing strains exerted upon the coupler a and which is employed to give said cousuch' strains, as the mechanism illustrated is now well known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment of the inventionillustrated, the coupler a has a shank b united with a well known form of coupler yoke c to which the invention is not to be limited. The coupler yoke shown embraces twopocketed follower plates d into which friction members 6 extend, these friction members cooperating with the spring mechalower plates (Z to give the coupler a normal position when not under strain and occasion the production of friction when the heavier pulling and pushing strains are encountered by the coupler, as set forth in the aforesaid patent, the lighter pulling strains and the initial parts of the heavier pulling strains bein opposed by sprin mechanism 9 as will Ive hereinafter state i The friction producing mechanism of the draft gear is shown as being interposed be tween center sills i2 -h. The rear follower plate (Z is shown as in engagement with the abutment lugs i and the forward follower plate is shown as in engagement with the mounted upon the inner faces of the center sills. The pushing strains that are heavy enough to move the forward follower plate are resisted by the action of the friction producing mechanism, and the spring mechanism f, the rear .abutments z' holding the rear follower plate to iposition the same and thereby enable the friction and spring mechanism f to work. lVhen pulling strains are exerted upon the coupler that are too light to efiect the operation of the friction producing mechanism, then the yielding element 9 that is interposed between the rear of the friction producing mechanism and the coupler may cushion such light pulling strains. This interposed spring member 9 nism j, friction blocks f, and pocketed foltion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, some furnish the greater opposition to the pulling pler a normal position when not subject to V abutment lugs 7c, these abutment lugs being pulling strains tosnch friction producing,

mechanism, ll employ e rigid member '1 for trensmittmg the pulling strains when the spring mechanism 9 has performed its 11116 lion of yieldingly opposing the initial parts oi? snob strains. This rigid member 5 is de siriibly in the form of a lierrel for housing springs and desirably is adapted li- :rectly to engage a plate 9% resting against the rear follower plate and spaced apart at n from she rigid member a distence which it is desired to here the springs g yield before the pulling strains are directly ap lied to the friction producing portion of t e gear. A bolt 0 passes through the spring barrel Z and lined with relation to the plate m,

this bolt being in, sliding relation with the closed end of the spring barrel and the contiguous end of the yoke a The abutment cheelr plates 2' directly engage the rear follower plate cl, whereby the spring n1echanism g is not interposed between the rear 1 The I follower plate and said obutinents. ebutnients 2' time constitute mechanism operating independently of the spring n1echunisin g for limiting the rearward movements of the coupler, whereby the spring j mechanism which is so serviceable in yielal; -ingly' opposing the lighter pulling strains and the initial parts ofthe heavier pulling shinins does not here its efiiciency impaired by beingsubject to violent pushing strains enerterl upon the coupler. fhe set of the springs g is not subject to that impairment which might be possible if the rigid structure Z were not employed to transfer the hezivier pulling strains to the friction pro- (lacing mechanism of the gear. Preferaltily e lrey p is passed through tlle bolis 0 in rear of the coupler yoke c to limit the forward movement of the bolt through the coupler yoke. 1

While I have herein shown onol portionlerlydescribecl the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown, as changes may readily be made Without Clepa rting from the spirit of the invention, lint,

'lering thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following In a draft gear, in combination, front'ancl rear main followers, 'hufiing mechanism re octing between such followers, 21 draw-her yoke extending about the main followers and in rear of the rear main follower, a pair of supplemental followers interposed between the rear end of the yoke and the rear main follower, e spring reaciing between the sun plcinentnl followers, and a bolt lined in the forward one of the supplemental followers and extending rarW-nrdlytherefrom through and in sliding relation with the rear supplemental lfollmver and the rear end of the yoke. and akey limiting; the forward sliding movement of the bolt with respect to the yoke.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this fifth clay of July, A l), 1910" LElVIS T. CANFHFJLD.

Wi tnesses G. L. Ciutoc, lllAUB'lCE Gonoennonn. 

